The Mercury Music Prize Awards 2024 have kicked off in style but Brat star Charli XCX was nowhere to be seen.
As the nominees arrived at the historic Abbey Road Studios for the ceremony, the 32-year-old gave the night a miss, despite the huge hype around her album.
She is this year’s most popular choice to win Album of the Year given Brat summer and influencing presidential campaigns but A.G. Cook and EASYFUN attended in her place.
While Charli may be the obvious choice, contenders include the beloved Irish singer CMAT as well as 00s pop icon Corinne Bailey-Rae.
Never afraid to push the boundaries of fashion, CMAT stunned in a frilly white gown with a corset emblazoned with her own album artwork.
She coordinated her makeup with the swirling artwork and flashed her signature tooth gems to the camera ahead of the ceremony; which started on BBC Four at 8pm.
English Teacher, Barry Can’t Swim, Ghetts, and more are all in with a chance of securing the coveted award at this year’s ceremony.
Cat Burns is nominated for her album Early Twenties, tearing up as they introduced her at the awards night.
She told the BBC: ‘I want people to feel less alone, and feel seen. In a non-mean way, we’re not that unique, other people go through the same things.’
The Last Dinner Party are also up for the prize, with Emily Roberts and Georgia Davies arriving at the ceremony in their familiar dressed-to-the-nines style.
Corinne brought the glam as she stunned in a floor-length navy gown with gold leaf detailing meanwhile Berwyn rocked a preppy cream jumper fit.
Corto.alto, Nia Achives, and Barry Can’t Swim were all also in attendance at the intimate awards ceremony.
Also in the lineup is previous winner Beth Gibbons, who beat the likes of Blur in 1995 with her band Portishead but has now returned with her solo debut.
Previous winners of the Brit Award alternative, which was first held in 1992, include Suede, Arctic Monkeys, Skepta, Arlo Parks, and Little Simz.
Last year’s £25,000 prize was secured by London band Ezra Collective who made history as the first ever jazz win for their album Where I’m Meant to Be.
The Mercury Prize, which is solely for British and Irish artists, insists judging is based on musical merit, irrespective of the commercial success of the nominated album.
Huge albums have been nominated previously such as Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia or Harry Styles’ Harry’s House but lost out to less commercial albums.
Mercury Prize 2024 nominees
– When Will We Land?
– Who Am I
– Lives Outgrown
– early twenties
– BRAT
– Crazymad, for Me
– Black Rainbows
– Bad with Names
– This Could Be Texas
– On Purpose, With Purpose
– Silence Is Loud
– Prelude to Ecstasy
During the 90s Britpop battles, both Oasis’ Definitely, Maybe and (What’s The Story) Morning Glory were nominated with the latter defeated by rivals Pulp in 1996.
When speaking to after being nominated, Corinne Bailey-Rae shared: ‘It feels thrilling to be nominated for this record, it’s an album which means so much to me.
‘I’m just really happy for the record that it holds its own in this historic moment.’
Many of the nominees told us they were still processing the honour and English Teacher added they were ‘just happy to be recognised’.
When accepting their award last year, Ezra Collective emphasised how important the prize was for smaller British and Irish artists.
Drummer Femi Koleoso said: ‘We met in a youth club. This moment we’re celebrating right here is testimony to good, special people putting time and effort into young people to play music.’
The year before this, Little Simz took home the award and gave a shout-out to her fellow nominees during her acceptance speech.
‘We all made incredible albums, we all changed people’s lives with our music and that’s the most important thing,’ she shared.
The 2024 Mercury Prize Winner will be revealed tonight during the awards ceremony.